Report: Bruins To Host Canadiens In 2016 Winter Classic At Gillette Stadium
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins will once again be hosting the Winter Classic.
According to ESPN's Joe McDonald, the Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens on New Year's Day 2016 at Gillette Stadium.
The Bruins last played in the Winter Classic back in 2010, when they hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park. The move to Gillette Stadium increases attendance (Fenway Park's capacity is roughly 37,000, while Gillette holds more than 68,000) and improves sight lines for most spectators.
The Bruins won that game in 2010, 2-1 in overtime.
Bruins president Cam Neely has stated multiple times on the Felger and Massarotti Show that the franchise has expressed to the league a strong interest to host and/or participate in another outdoor game.
"I can tell you that we've expressed strong interest to host another Winter Classic, as a lot of other teams have done," Neely said in early December. "We're pushing as hard as we can to get another Winter Classic, whether that be next year or not, I'm not sure yet. But I know the league knows that I've certainly pushed hard for it. I think it's a great thing for the organization, I love it for our fans, and I love what it can do for youth hockey."
Neely also expressed that he enjoyed seeing the game played at Fenway but he was open to a venue change.
"Fenway was a fantastic setting. I think doing it at Fenway was awesome," Neely said. "If we get it in the near future, I think personally that a change wouldn't be a bad thing, just to have a different experience for the fans and the players who played it in maybe at Fenway. But the setting at Fenway was pretty special."
Of the seven Winter Classics held since 2008, four have been played in MLB stadiums and three have been played in football stadiums.
The official announcement will reportedly be made this weekend during the NHL's All-Star festivities.
